THE Office of Fair Trading is launching a fact-finding review to understand more about the challenges facing consumers and businesses in remote communities.

The consumer body is calling for evidence from the public in these areas to help inform its work.

It will run workshops with residents in areas such as Bridgend and Gwynedd.

In a statement, the OFT said that it “recognises that the prices of many goods and services are frequently higher in remote communities, where there can be fewer suppliers available, and access to key services such as shops, dentists, chemists, banks and public transport can be limited”.

It acknowledged that “fuel prices are a cause for concern for those who need to travel long distances to school, work or the shops”.